Around the Globe with ChildFund in 31 Days: Providing Life Skills for Cambodian Youth

Over the course of January’s 31 days, we’re making a blog stop in each country where we serve children, thanks to the generous support of our sponsors and donors. Today we catch up with Phalla, a youth in Cambodia.

In many rural villages of Cambodia, young people are forced to migrate to urban centers in search of work. For Phalla, now 23 years old, this journey has been made twice – first, to work alongside her father in construction and a second time as an unskilled laborer in a garment factory.

To generate more livelihood opportunities, ChildFund Cambodia has been implementing the Youth for Development program in Svay Yea commune. This provides vocational training to young people as well as leadership, life skills and business training.

Phalla with her chickens.

After losing her father, Phalla returned again to her village, but earned very little from farming and selling sugar palm. After joining the ChildFund youth program, Phalla chose sewing as her training course, and eventually, she and five other trainees established their own tailor shops. ChildFund provided each of them with sewing machines and materials, as well as ongoing business mentoring.

Phalla’s entrepreneurship doesn’t end there – she now generates a second income by raising chickens and ducks at home. “In the past, I usually followed others without having a clear goal. Now I have a specific livelihood that allows me to stay in the community with my family,” she says.

Because of her commitment, Phalla has also been selected to be a community resource trainer, so that she can pass on her knowledge and skills to younger people in her community.